Wicked Idolatry

In the ever growing pantheon of Christian celebrities and the self serving conferences here is one of which I was unfamiliar. Here is David Jeremiah who many consider a good teacher and orthodox but as you can read held a “celebration” of the publishing of his own “Jeremiah Study Bible”. It was quite a gala which included music and even an appearance by Donald Trump. And even though Jeremiah’s church and home is in California this event was held in Madison Square Garden in New York City. It is obvious why this place was chosen.

A survey of his speaking schedule is filled with cruises, Holy Land tours, and many “nights with David Jeremiah” around the country. Almost anyone who pays for a Christian television spot can gain a following after a while. And Mr. Jeremiah also was a guest on TBN to help raise funds. He may be a Bible teacher but he is a compromiser and a wealthy American patriot.

But this kind of idolatry where you use God’s Word with your name attached as a drawing card is an abomination. How can people approach the Word with frivolity and irreverence and especially celebrating one man’s interpretation as if it were the tablets of stone come down from heaven? And if you will notice that some people received a free copy of Jeremiah’s Bible DEPENDING ON THE PRICE OF THEIR SEATS. The cheapest seats were $25 and the ones that were $50 received a copy of Jeremiah’s Bible as if they were a door prize. Again, an abomination to be sure.

A Jeremiah Study Bible. Fascinating. All these guys seem to eventually get around to publishing their own ‘version’ of the Bible, with personal, biased, interpretational notes, of course. Before long it will be impossible to have a decent bible discussion among believers. Can’t you just imagine it:

“My Jeremiah Study Bible says that verse should be interpreted as meaning…..”

“Well, your Bible is wrong! Jimmy Swaggart’s Study Bible says….”

“You’re both WRONG! my Scofield Bible notes say the only correct way to read that is….”

7 comments on “Wicked Idolatry”

As usual, Rick is right on the mark. Its all about religious marketing and entertainment and the fame and profit it generates. And it is corrupting the souls of both the deceivers and the deceived. There was a time before the onslaught of the study Bibles, detailed prophecy manuals and apocalyptic novels, that people used a PLAIN Bible and a commentary to do their Bible study. And all of the well known commentaries, while usually the work of one person, were generally based on an expansive collection of wisdom from multiple sources, AND people who studied their Bibles would usually refer to MORE than one commentary (and a concordance, don’t need those any more either) in their studies. When people did use a study Bible back then, it would often be a serious study Bible with multiple contributors in the tradition of the Geneva Bible, with the exception of the Scofield Bible that blazed the way to the current confusion. That approach has long ago gone by the wayside as it has been replaced by getting all biblical information from ONE allegedly comprehensive and exhaustive Bible with detailed explanations published by some charismatic (albeit occasionally cessationist as well – hows that for an oxymoron?) fund raising “Bible teacher” to whom one owes their total allegiance with all naysayers being heretics. It is truly nauseating and heartbreaking at the same time. The protestant church, child of the reformation, that used to pride itself in its fidelity to the Word and its legions of respected Bible scholars, has now descended to the level of the publishers of pulp paperbacks. What ever happened to the Christian classics, most of which are no longer even published? There is seemingly no longer much of a market for the old works that went out of fashion with the arrival of “Late Great Planet Earth”, “Left Behind” and other modern examples of religious fiction.

There is seemingly no longer much of a market for the old works that went out of fashion with the arrival of “Late Great Planet Earth”, “Left Behind” and other modern examples of religious fiction.

You know, i’ve even had people quote from both these fictional sources in the same manner one would quote from the bible! No kidding. They, like Scofield’s notes, have been accepted as “anointed, Spirit inspired writings”, like the bible, in many circles.

About two weeks ago I was flipping through radio stations and landed on one of his shows. I listened for a short while and it seemed to me like he was teaching deliverance ministry stuff. I just shook my head and cringed a little.

I always wonder if those who preached that the family of the Most High God can be “oppressed by demons and Satan” believe what scripture says. “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Steve i ‘think’ i use to listen to him on the radio…i say ‘think’ because there were a few different ministries i use to listen to every morning at work. Over the years i’ve kinda tunned out from all radio (and definitely, all TV) preachers/teachers. I started hearing so much weird, unbiblical things being taught and preached, it was just easier to stop listening to all of them, rather then attempt to find ones who still taught the truth.

As far as demonic oppression, we are told,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12

Satan’s agents, demons, do war against God’s people.

The Bible says that the devil seeks to devour believers (1 Peter 5:8), and Satan and his demons “scheme” against Christians (Ephesians 6:11). As Satan attempted with Jesus (Luke 4:2), demonic forces tempt us to sin and oppose our efforts to obey God. Should a Christian allow the demons to succeed in these attacks, oppression results. Demonic oppression is when a demon is temporarily victorious over a Christian, successfully tempting a Christian to sin and hindering his ability to serve God with a strong testimony. If a Christian continues to allow demonic oppression in his/her life, the oppression can increase to the point that the demon has a very strong influence over the Christian’s thoughts, behavior, and spirituality. Christians who allow continuing sin open themselves up for greater and greater oppression. Confession and repentance of sin are necessary to restore fellowship with God, who can then break the power of demonic influence. The apostle John gives us great encouragement in this area: “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him” (1 John 5:18).

For the Christian, the power for victory over and freedom from demonic oppression is always available. John declares, “The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) is always available to overcome demonic oppression. No demon, not even Satan himself, can prevent a Christian from surrendering to the Holy Spirit and thereby overcoming any and all demonic oppression. Peter encourages believers to resist the devil, “standing firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9). Being firm or steadfast in the faith means relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to successfully resist demonic influence. Faith is built up through the spiritual disciplines of feeding on the Word of God, persistent prayer, and godly fellowship. Strengthening our faith by these means enables us to put up the shield of faith with which we can “extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16).

I would agree with that description of demonic oppression. The difference between that and what others teach is that sin and repentance are left out of the equation.

I only listened to David Jeremiah for a short while, but in that time there was no mention of sin or repentance and I don’t recall that I had a sense that he would go there. He may have eventually made the connection between oppression and sin after I changed the channel

luci
I stopped listening to most of the preachers on radio and t.v. after the election of President Obama. The venomous hatred they project toward President Obama is not Christlike at all. There have been several that have died in recent years, some before the 2008 election. I have to wonder if our Father in heaven called them home to preserve their testimonies. I have even heard some of them say that Jesus Christ would not approve of healing the sick and feeding the hungry. Their gospel does not agree with the New Testament at all.

Yes i agree, we have certainly seen the hearts of many who call themselves Christians, revealed, starting prior to the 08 election and continuing on to today. God, in my opinion, has used our president to bring to light, much ugliness hidden deep within those who claim to love Jesus.

Like you, i’ve heard it on Christian programs (or rather did–for i no longer listen to them either) and at many internet “Christian” websites and ministries. It still grieves me deeply.

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